SLF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALERT May 2008

Genetic Bias Bill Signed Into Law

President Bush has signed the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act (“GINA”), a new Federal Law that prohibits genetic discrimination in the workplace. Fairly summarized, GINA prohibits employers from discharging, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating against employees on the basis of genetic information. The Law also applies to employment agencies and labor unions, and will go into effect in 18 months.

GINA gives the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission one year to promulgate regulations. Employers are encouraged to review this new legislation and prepare to implement policies and training to ensure compliance. A copy of GINA may be obtained at: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-493.

Eleventh Circuit Holds Sexually Harassing Conduct Need Not Be Targeted Toward Employee To Be Actionable

 In a case of first impression, the Eleventh Circuit has held that sex-specific language and conduct need not be targeted at a particular worker to be actionable as sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In Reeves v. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., Case No. 07-10270, the court found that the plaintiff’s “daily exposure to language and radio programming that are particularly offensive to women” was sufficient to state a claim for sexual harassment, even though the plaintiff was not the direct target of the behavior in question. A copy of the court’s decision may be found at: http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/opinions/ops/200710270.pdf.

J. David Marsey Joins Sniffen Law Firm

Sniffen Law Firm is pleased to announce that J. David Marsey has joined the Firm. David will continue his practice in the areas of employment litigation, civil rights defense, general tort and insurance defense and commercial litigation.

David received his B.S. in Criminology and his J.D. from Florida State University where he served as an articles selection editor on the Law Review and graduated with high honors. Before joining the Sniffen Law Firm, David worked at another Tallahassee litigation firm.  He is a member of the Order of the Coif and the Labor and Employment Law and Trial Lawyer sections of the Florida Bar. 

Prior to attending law school he served as a law enforcement officer and investigator with the Tallahassee Police Department and Florida Department of Insurance, Division of Insurance Fraud. Mr. Marsey is also experienced in investigating traffic accidents; violent and white collar crimes, and insurance fraud. He has also served as a Certified Legal Intern Prosecutor in the Felony Division of the State Attorney's Office of the Second Judicial Circuit.

PAST ISSUES OF SLF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ALERT

You may view past issues of the SLF Labor and Employment Alert on the “Publications” page. Links to the 2006 and 2007 Archives are provided below for your convenience.

 

211 East Call Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850.205.1996
850.205.3004 FAX